The Importance of Roster Construction
Steve Kerr's post-playing career had largely been spent in the broadcast booth before he became the top candidate in the coaching job market, ultimately attracting offers despite lacking prior experience as a head or assistant coach. Both the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks sought him out. Derek Fisher eventually took the Knicks job but lasted less than two years, underscoring an important reality: coaching hires, while significant, don't matter much if a team fails to get the roster right.
Similarly, JJ Redick's success in Los Angeles will heavily depend on the talent that Lakers' General Manager Rob Pelinka and his front office can assemble. A critical focus will be the development of young talents like Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Max Christie. These developmental priorities were highlighted even during the pursuit of other coaching candidates such as Dan Hurley.
Offensive Strategy Adjustments
Redick plans to make key adjustments to the Lakers' offensive strategy. Notably, he aims to involve Anthony Davis more in the offense, particularly in late-game situations. One of his major goals is to alleviate LeBron James' ball-handling duties, thereby keeping LeBron fresh for the playoffs. Trae Young's potential fit with the Lakers makes a lot of sense based on these criteria.
Redick’s Long-term Potential
Redick's hiring suggests that the Lakers are thinking more long-term. The franchise is confident that Redick can be their version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr—a culture-setter who can grow with the organization for over a decade. With foundational pieces like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the Lakers have a solid starting point. During their 2020 championship run, the Lakers didn’t have a third star, which limited their ceiling. Acquiring Malcolm Brogdon might be feasible and less costly compared to someone like Dejounte Murray. Additionally, Collin Sexton was reportedly a target for the Lakers at the trade deadline.
Challenges in Acquiring Talent
The wing market is typically less forgiving and more challenging to navigate. Ball-handling tends to be a relatively available and inexpensive commodity in the market. Nonetheless, the Lakers have spent significant assets on players like Dennis Schroder, Russell Westbrook, and D'Angelo Russell in recent years. Wings are much harder to come by and are often developed within the organization. Most championship teams cultivate their own wings, and the Lakers appear ready to bet on Redick's developmental acumen in this regard.
The Uncertain Future of LeBron James
LeBron James isn't a lock to return, and until his future is secured, the Lakers must remain flexible regarding life after him. There's no easy way to project the Lakers’ roster at this point. While we understand the broad strokes of how Redick wants to build the team, specific details of the overall plan are still lacking. As the season progresses, it will become clearer how Redick's vision will translate on the court. For now, Lakers fans can only speculate and hope for the best.
Redick's success won't depend solely on his strategic adjustments. Rather, it will be determined by how well the team can assemble a supportive and talented roster around him. Los Angeles is optimistic that Redick can be a long-term culture-setter, much like Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr. With the right developmental focus and strategic adjustments, Redick has the potential to guide the Lakers towards sustained success.
Quotes
“Los Angeles is confident he can be their version of Erik Spoelstra or Steve Kerr—a culture-setter who can grow with the franchise for over a decade.”